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Bruins’ comeback falls short against Maple Leafs

Tyler Bozak scored twice, Phil Kessel had three assists and the Toronto Maple Leafs held off the Boston Bruins 4-3 on Tuesday night.

Jonathan Bernier made 38 saves for the Maple Leafs, including 15 in the third period as the Bruins tried to rally after allowing three straight goals.

James van Riemsdyk's goal a minute into the third put Toronto up 4-2, and the Maple Leafs held on despite getting outshot 41-26.

Jake Gardiner also scored for Toronto.

Brad Marchand and Patrice Bergeron each had a goal and an assist for Boston. Gregory Campbell pulled the Bruins to 4-3 with 10:25 left in the third period, but Bernier stopped a late flurry of shots after Boston pulled goalie Tuukka Rask for the extra skater.

Boston won the first two meetings this season with the Maple Leafs, who were on the verge of winning their first-round playoff series in Game 7 last spring before the Bruins rallied from a 4-2 deficit late in the third period and won 5-4 in overtime.

Rask made 22 saves in this one for Boston, which lost for the third time in four games. He was booed after van Riemsdyk's wrist shot got past him early in the third, but came up with two big saves later in the period that kept the Bruins in it.

Rask made a sliding pad save on Nazem Kadri as he was being taken down by Zdeno Chara with a hook, then stopped a big shot early in the ensuing power play to keep it 4-3.

Bernier withstood a flurry of shots by the Bruins early in the second, then stopped Boston on a power play to preserve a 2-all tie until Gardiner gave Toronto its first lead with 12:51 left in the period.

The Maple Leafs were on a power play when Gardiner drifted in from the point to the right circle, where he took a cross-ice pass from Kessel and wristed a shot through Rask.

Bergeron tucked a backhand between Bernier's left pad and the post to put the Bruins up 2-1 with 9:12 left in the first period. The goal stood after a review to make sure the puck didn't slip under the side of the net.

NOTES: Chara played in his 1,100th career game. ... Rask entered with 22 wins, tying his career high set in 2009-10. ... Toronto had not beaten the Bruins since a 2-1 victory in Game 6 of their playoff series last year. After playing three times so far this season, the Original Six rivals have one meeting left. ... Dion Phaneuf's assist in the second period for Toronto snapped a five-game scoreless streak.

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